Game 36 Wrap-Up: BAL 5 NYY 2

(The 8-inning streak is over.  Courtesy of The AP)

CC Sabathia was riding an incredible hot streak and the Yankees had already won a game pitched by Wei-Yin Chen once this season.  On paper, this seemed like a slam dunk win for the Yanks, but as the saying goes, that's why they play the game.

Game Notes:

- CC worked almost effortlessly through a 10-pitch 1st inning, and so it didn't look like a big deal when he hung a sinker to Adam Jones for a solo HR in the 2nd.  But that pitch was a clear indication that it was not CC's night.

- For whatever reason, CC just didn't have it last night.  He had trouble throwing his sinker and slider for strikes on a consistent basis, and never really established full command of his fastball.  It all added up to a very un-CC-like 8 hits, 4 walks, and 4 ER allowed in 6 innings.

- Also for unknown reasons, the Yankee offense was lifeless against Chen.  While CC struggled, Chen cruised through his 6 innings on just 80 pitches, allowing only 3 baserunners and 0 runs.  The 16 swinging strikes suggest that Chen was really good, but that still doesn't excuse the no-show from the lineup.

- Just when things really started to look bleak, Curtis Granderson stepped in with 2 outs in the 7th and for the 13th time this season hit the pitch that was thrown to him over the outfield wall.  It went to left field, and barely made it over the wall, but it still counted.  Robinson Cano was on 2nd after leading off with a double and the lead was down to 4-2.

- In a move that spoke both to how poorly CC was pitching and how taxed the healthy members of the bullpen are, Joe opted to go to Freddy Garcia in the bottom of the 7th.  Garcia let the leadoff hitter get on and eventually score a run on a stolen base, groundout advance, and a passed ball.

- 2 walks to start the 8th had the Yankee offense in business again, but a groundout by Swish and a killer 2nd-pitch GIDP by Cano on a hittable pitch ended the threat and effectively ended the Yankees' night.  They went down quickly and on another GIDP to end the game in the 9th.

- Maybe it was the news of the latest major injury to a key player finally being enough to affect the team's psyche, because the Yankees didn't play with much energy last night.  On a baseball level it's frustrating, but on a personal level it's understandable.  Hopefully they can shake it off tonight.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Granderson: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, GIDP.  Responsible for the only Yankee runs of the night.  Interesting note on Curtis' HR this season- all 13 of them have been hit at either Yankee Stadium (10) and Camden Yards (3).

Oh Nos:

- Nick Swisher: 0-4, GIDP, 4 LOB.  Tough night for Swish at the plate.  Not the only one you could say that about.

- A-Rod & Teix: 1-7, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 LOB.  Didn't score any runs, didn't drive in any runs, didn't have 1 extra base hit.

#heartoftheorder

- CC: 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, L.  I praise the big guy when he comes up big, so I have to criticize him when he doesn't.  CC's team needed another big night from him tonight and he didn't deliver.  Stuff was there but he couldn't really command anything, and he took his first loss of the season.  I'm not worried, though.  Just one game.

Next Up:

So the Bombers are traveling to Toronto, eh?  That'll be a hoot.  Just like the Baltimore series, this one will be a 2-gamer.  It starts tonight with Hiroki Kuroda facing Kyle Drabek.